Sapphire

With prices starting as low as the $300,000s, breathtaking water views and an array of resort amenities, Sapphire has quickly become the most sought-after residence in Fort Lauderdale. Perfectly situated on A1A between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, Sapphire's combination of luxury, value and convenience makes the property an irresistible draw for prospective buyers and has current residents beaming. "With almost 50 new sales in the last few months, the response to Sapphire has been extraordinary," says Carolyn Block Ellert, broker/co-owner of Premier Sales Group, the sole sales and marketing agent for Sapphire.

The heavy downpour didn't dampen spirits at the elegant Sundy House restaurant last Friday in Delray Beach where members of the Jewish National Fund's South Florida Sapphire Society were meeting for lunch. More than two dozen women from the tri-county area gathered to celebrate the success of the society's many projects in Israel and receive a well-deserved thank you from JNF. The Sapphire Society is the women's major gift division of the Jewish National Fund. The society has raised over $20 million in its 14 years for a wide variety of projects in Israel.

After her acclaimed 1996 novel "Push" was made into the film "Precious" two years ago, the novelist known as Sapphire learned a lesson in the relative scale of fame between New York, the city of books and publishing, and Hollywood, the city of, well, you know. Movies. " 'Push' was like a textbook," Sapphire says. "It was used on college campuses, it was a steady seller. But even with 100,000 copies in print and everything, it was nothing compared to Dan Brown or Terry McMillan, selling a million copies.

After her acclaimed 1996 novel "Push" was made into the film "Precious" two years ago, the novelist known as Sapphire learned a lesson in the relative scale of fame between New York, the city of books and publishing, and Hollywood, the city of, well, you know. Movies. " 'Push' was like a textbook," Sapphire says. "It was used on college campuses, it was a steady seller. But even with 100,000 copies in print and everything, it was nothing compared to Dan Brown or Terry McMillan, selling a million copies.

CORAL SPRINGS -- A sapphire and diamond ring worth $350 was stolen from a home in the 4300 block of Northwest 115th Avenue between 7 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. on Jan. 14, police reported. The home was entered after glass in a rear door was shattered. Three jewelry boxes were ransacked, but only the one ring was taken.

ANDREWS, N.C. -- The world`s largest cut sapphire was put on public display Saturday by the man who found it 18 years ago and kept it under his bed, not realizing its value. Rob Cutshaw said he found the 2,111-carat blue sapphire in 1969 but refused to say where, except that it was near Andrews, a town of 1,700 close to the Georgia-Tennessee border, an area known for finds of valuable gemstones. Against the advice of his attorneys, Cutshaw put the rock on display so the townsfolk would have an opportunity to see it before it goes back into the bank vault.

Dorothy Wiley`s sapphire ring had served as a symbol of love since 1929, when Robert Wiley first slipped it onto the finger of his bride-to-be. Then a burglar stole it, and the Wileys figured the 8-carat sapphire was gone forever. On Thursday, after police returned the treasured ring, Dorothy Wiley cried. "It`s a miracle," she said Friday from her home in Boynton Beach. "I never dreamed I`d see it again." Police found the sapphire on the finger of a teen-age burglary suspect who was spotted in a stolen car in Delray Beach.

McLain Ward was convinced after one overseas phone call. It was a dear friend and partner in Belgium who told the Wellington rider "you need to buy this horse." Eight years later, Ward and his two-time Olympic gold medalist mount Sapphire continue to make history at every arena they set foot in. On Sunday, in their first International Arena grand prix appearance at this year's FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the pair turned in back-to-back fault free rounds to win the $150,000 CN CSIO Grand Prix to end week eight of the circuit.

CORAL SPRINGS -- About $250 in cash and a blue sapphire ring valued at $395 were taken from two safes sometime between 6 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 9 a.m. on Feb. 8 from Royal American Holidays, at 3111 University Drive, police said. Police said both safes had been drilled open.

Two diamond and sapphire rings valued at $2,090 and $68 in cash were stolen from a house in the 300 block of North M Street, police said. While the owner was asleep, a burglar broke in by tearing a screen and picking the lock between 12:02 a.m. and 6 a.m. Thursday, police said.

As my husband and I waved good-bye to our handsome twenty-one year old grandson and his father at the entrance to the Palm Beach International Airport, I began to think about past holidays and their significance. And as the chill permeated our car windows and the sky grew a dark sapphire blue, I started to reflect on the old tale I told my children and then my grandchildren when they were young, many years ago. Perhaps you would enjoy telling the tale to your children and grandkids.

With prices starting as low as the $300,000s, breathtaking water views and an array of resort amenities, Sapphire has quickly become the most sought-after residence in Fort Lauderdale. Perfectly situated on A1A between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, Sapphire's combination of luxury, value and convenience makes the property an irresistible draw for prospective buyers and has current residents beaming. "With almost 50 new sales in the last few months, the response to Sapphire has been extraordinary," says Carolyn Block Ellert, broker/co-owner of Premier Sales Group, the sole sales and marketing agent for Sapphire.

Defending champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany took the lead after the opening round of the Rolex FEI World Cup show-jumping finals in Las Vegas. The grand prix rider and her mount Shutterfly topped a field of 43 starters. The 39-year-old California-born Michaels-Beerbaum has a one-second advantage over Christina Liebherr of Switzerland. Two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward of Wellington and Sapphire are third.... Steffen Peters and Ravel won the Dressage Grand Prix title, also in Las Vegas.

Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward and his prized mount Sapphire made it look easy Saturday night at the $200,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Already No. 1 in World Cup qualifying points, Ward of Wellington and Brewster, N.Y. won his second major grand prix title in six days and pocketed $60,000 to win more than $100,000 in back-to-back grand prix events. Ward and his 14-year-old Belgian warmblood mare topped a five-rider jump-off field after the 45-rider opening round with a clear, fast round in 43.51 seconds.

McLain Ward was convinced after one overseas phone call. It was a dear friend and partner in Belgium who told the Wellington rider "you need to buy this horse." Eight years later, Ward and his two-time Olympic gold medalist mount Sapphire continue to make history at every arena they set foot in. On Sunday, in their first International Arena grand prix appearance at this year's FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the pair turned in back-to-back fault free rounds to win the $150,000 CN CSIO Grand Prix to end week eight of the circuit.

McLain Ward let loose on the awards podium after turning in one of the finest performances of his illustrious show jumping career. The usually reserved 31-year-old Olympian from Brewster, N.Y. and Wellington, opened a bottle of expensive champagne and doused his fellow show jumpers after winning the $399,000 CN Worldwide Florida Open Grand Prix, the first stop of the Global Champions Tour. In front of a crowd of 12,000 and a live European national television audience, Ward and his 2004 Olympic mount Sapphire put on a show that more than made up for his slow start earlier this season at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

CORAL SPRINGS -- A $40 black eel skin change purse, containing $56 and a $1,700 18-karat gold ring with a blue sapphire and 20 small diamonds, was stolen from a woman shopping at Lord & Tayor`s, 9001 W. Atlantic Blvd., according to a police report. The woman had left her purse open while paying at a counter. She was taking the ring to have it sized, according to the report.

A diamond and sapphire ring was stolen from a home in the 1000 block of Del Haven Drive on Monday, police reported. The ring -- white gold with one sapphire surrounded by 30 rectangular diamonds -- was worth $10,000, according to reports.

After a slow start in the Winter Equestrian Festival, McLain Ward knew the law of averages would catch up with him. The 2004 Olympian and his 12-year-old Belgian warmblood mare Sapphire won the $75,000 Bainbridge Idle Dice Classic on Sunday in front of a near-sellout crowd of 10,000, including the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. Ward, 30, of North Salem, N.Y., and Sapphire went double clear, topping a field of 48 riders in the opening round in 83.

Mike Azzaro, one of two Americans rated at 10 goals, was named Most Valuable Player after scoring five goals in the Outback 40-Goal Challenge Saturday at the International Palm Beach Polo Club in Wellington. Azzaro, the only player to compete in all six charity games in South Florida since 2000, led Bombay Sapphire to a 12-7 victory over Crab Orchard. "It was an awesome game," said Azzaro. "We had good chemistry between Mariano [Aguerre] and Javier [Astrada] and me. I love playing with Tincho [Agustin Merlos]